Induction of Antibodies to Pseudorabies Virus by Immunization with Anti-Idiotypic Antibodies

Abstract

In 1974, Niels Jerne (10) proposed that an anti-idiotypic antibody (anti-anti-X) might sometimes express an “internal image” of X; i.e., that the combining region of the anti-idiotypic (anti-Id) antibody could have structural features in common with antigen X (This is consistent with the fact that both can interact with anti-X.) We have suggested the term “related epitope” or anti-Id(RE) to describe the feature held in common by the two substances (19). This term intentionally suggests that the structural relationship might be confined to a single epitope and that the epitopes on X and on anti-anti-X might be serologically cross-reactive but not necessarily identical. Until 1978, Jerne’s postulate represented an interesting hypothesis but did not have experimental support. In that year, Sege and Peterson (26) made two observations that are most readily interpreted on the basis of the internal image concept. They prepared antibodies to insulin in rats and affininty-purified them. Anti-Id antibodies were next elicited in rabbits against the purified rat anti-insulin, and adsorbed in the usual way to remove antibodies to non-idiotypic determinants. The absence of anti-insulin was ensured by passage over an insulin-containing column. These anti-Id antibodies mimicked the behavior of insulin in two ways: they inhibited the binding of radiolabeled insulin to rat epididymal fat cells and they stimulated the uptake of α-aminoisobutyric acid by rat thymocytes.